Mailing and return envelope

ABSTRACT

An envelope which may be mailed twice. The envelope is perforated or lined so as to allow it to be separable into two separate portions. One of the portions is provided with adhesive adjacent to the perforation or line so as to facilitate resealing of one of the portions. One embodiment is provided with a foldable tab having the adhesive thereon.

United" States Patent 1 Wilson 11] 3,747,837 July 24, 1973 1 MAILING ANDRETURN ENVELOPE [76] lnventorz Donald G. Wilson, 3921 E. 75m St.,

Indianapolis, Ind. 46240 [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 v [21] Appl. No.:174,663

[52] US. Cl. 229/73 R [51] Int. Cl. 365d 27/06 [58] Field 01 Search22,9/73

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,431 11/1962Rabemold..... 229/73 3,531,046 9/ 1970 Catrigan 229/73 X 1,245,447'11/1917 ,Felenchakm 229/73 X 2,895,664 7/1959 Cone 229/73 3,152,75110/1964 Hiersteiner 3/1970 Klein 229/73 Primary Examiner-Davis T.Moorhead Attorneywoodard et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An envelope which may be mailed twice. The envelope isperforated or lined so as to allow it to be separable into two separateportions. One of the portions is provided with adhesive adjacent to theperforation or line so as to facilitate're-sealing of one of theportions. One embodiment is provided with a foldable tab having theadhesive thereon.

1 Claim, Drawing Figures PAIENm-Jummn 3,747.83! sum 1 ur Fi 5 f INVENTORDona/d6 M/i/san v BY ['7 1g. i 157. 5 r

Mama, MM, inn/4442 ATTORNEYS Pmmwmwm 3.747.837

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR BY 1 Dona/d 6. Wilson {Mazda/:4, MM,

ATTORNEYS MAILING AND RETURN ENVELOPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of envelopes.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of U.S. Patents have beengranted disclosing envelopes which may be used a number of times. Arepresentable sample of the prior art is disclosed in the following U.S.Pat. Nos.: 2,129,705 issued to Reineman; 2,527,925 issued to Frampton;2,686,005 issued to Hyman; 2,895,664 issued to Cone; and, 2,936,946issued to Harpman.

Disclosed herein is a new and improved mailing and return envelope whichmay be prepared for re-mailing in an easier manner as compared to theprior art envelopes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a mailing and return envelope having a mainpanel with length and width wherein the main panel has a first lineacross the width to allow separation into two separate pieces; and,adhesive on the envelope adjacent the line to secure one of the piecesclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pre-cutpaper sheet for making an envelope incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a formed envelope made from the sheet of FIG.1.

.FIG. 3 is a view of the reverse side of the envelope shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 2 only after the envelope has been tornalong the perforated lines.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a pre-punched data processing card.

FIG. 6 is the same view as FIG. 1 only showing an alternate embodimentof the positioning of the adhesive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For the purposes of promotingan understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will nowbe made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specificlanguage will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless beunderstood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is therebyintended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrateddevice, and such further applications of the principles of the inventionas illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to oneskilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a pre-cutsheet of paper 10 having a flap 11, end panels 12 and 14, and side panel13 integrally connected together by main panel 15. End panels 12 and I14 and side panel 13 are folded respectively on crease length directionof the envelope. Main panel 15 is divided into two portions 26 and 27 bythe perforated line 29 which extends across the width of panel 15 andconnects lines 21 and 21. Lines 21 and 21 are parallel, aligned and areoffset from line 29 forming a tab 28 having adhesive thereon. Lines 21,21 and 28.are such that lines 21 and 21 are on a straight line which isparallel to and overlaps 28' when the envelope is folded. A crease line28' is positioned at the bottom end of the tab in line with lines 21 and21 allowing the tab to be folded over on side panel 13 and flap 11.

A mailing address window 20 may be cut out in main panel 15 so as toallow a card having the mailing address thereon to be positioned in theenvelope with the mailing address showing through the window. The windowneed not be present if the reduced envelope, to be described, isaddressed by hand. Such a reduced card 50 is shown in FIG. 5 with themailing address 52 also shown. Card 50 is a standard pre-punched dataprocessing card having a plurality of holes 51. These cards have lengthsof 7 7/16 inches or less.

Envelope30 is a mailing and return envelope allowing a statement orother material to be mailed to a person. The person then tears theenvelope into two pieces along lines 21, 21' and 29. Alternatively, theenvelope could be cut by scissors along line 19' permitting sidewaysremoval of contents. This could be followed by tearing along line 21,21', 28' or scissor cut along such a line (FIG. 6). A check or moneyorder may then be inserted into the useable portion 40 of the envelopeshown in FIG. 4, and tab 41 is folded and sealed to panel 25 and flap23. Panel 15 has a length from crease line 28' to the end of the panelat line 16 which is greater than the length of card 50. Thus, card 50may also be inserted into the envelope 40 so as to identify the check ormoney order being returned and/or to readdress the return envelope. Card50 may have the address of the original sender printed on the sideopposite of the side having address 52. The original full length cardmight also have the original mailing address on the stub end for properjuxtapositioning under the window. The stub could be removed with theremaining card having a return address. The card may be inserted inenvelope 40 so as to have the original senders address appear throughwindow 20.

An alternate embodiment of the envelope is shown in FIG. 6. The sheet ofpaper 60 is identical to sheet 10 with the exception that the adhesive63 is positioned below perforated line 62. An envelope made from sheet60 may thus be Torn across line 62 or cut into two separate pieces 64and 65. The adhesive 63 is positioned on the interior surface of mainpanel 61 as the adhesive is positioned on the interior surface of panel15. To reseal an envelope made by sheet 60, a tab, such as tab 28, doesnot have to be folded.

Many variations on the envelope design are contemplated and included inthis invention. For example, address hole 20 may be deleted and asticker provided for attachment over an address on the envelope.Alternatively, a pre-addressed peel off sticker could be removed fromthe envelope.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a combination including a standard prepunched data processing cardand a mailing and return envelope wherein said envelope includes a mainpanel with length and width, a first end and an opposite end with anaddress window disposed therebetween;

a triangular shaped first end panel integrally connected to said mainpanel along a first crease line and lying flat against said main panelon one side thereof;

a triangular shaped second end panel integrally connected to said mainpanel along a second crease line and lying flat against said main panelon said one side;

a side panel extending across said length being integrally connected tosaid main panel and folded along a third crease line perpendicularlyarranged with respect to said first crease line and said seond creaseline, said side panel positioned outwardly of said first end panel andsaid second end panel and being sized to overlap said first end paneland said second end panel and being secured thereto by adhesive;

a flap extending along said length and being integrally connected tosaid main panel and foleded along a fourth crease line parallel to saidthird crease line, said flap being sized such when folded along saidfourth crease line will overlap said side panel, said first end paneland said second end panel, said flap having an interior surface withadhesive thereon to adhesively secure said flap to said side panel, saidfirst end panel and said second end panel, wherein the improvementcomprises:

first perforated straight line extending across said first end panel andparallel with said first crease line;

a second perforated straight line extending across said flap;

a third perforated straight line extending across said main panel;

a fourth perforated straight line extending across said side panel, saidfourth perforated line is parallel with said first perforated line, saidsecond perforated line and said third perforated line with aid first,second, third and fourth perforated lines positioned the same distancefrom said first crease line allowing said envelope to be torn acrosssaid width in a straight line to remove the contents of the envelope;

a fifth perforated straight line extending across said a sixthperforated straight line extending across said main panel and positionedbetween said third perforated line and said window;

a seventh perforated straight line extending across said side panel andparallel with said first, fifth and sixth perforated lines;

said fifth, sixth and seventh perforated lines are positioned the samedistance from said first crease line allowing said envelope to be tornacross said width in a second straight line into a first piececontaining said window, said main panel has an interior surface withadhesives thereon adjacent said fifth perforated line and between saidwindow and said fifth perforated line allowing said first piece to beresealed by sealing said main panel to said flap, said side panel andsaid second end panel adjacent to said fifth perforated line subsequentto the tearing thereof, said adhesive on said interior surface of saidmain panel adhesively secures said main panel to said second end panel,said flap and said side panel;

said data card has at length and width sized with respect to the lengthand width of said envelope such that relative motion between saidenvelope and said card is prevented when said card is positioned in saidenvelope and said envelope is sealed and untorn.

1. In a combination including a standard prepunched data processing cardand a mailing and return envelope wherein said envelope includes a mainpanel with length and width, a first end and an opposite end with anaddress window disposed therebetween; a triangular shaped first endpanel integrally connected to said main panel along a first crease lineand lying flat against said main panel on one side thereof; a triangularshaped second end panel integrally connected to said main panel along asecond crease line and lying flat against said main panel on said oneside; a side panel extending across said length being integrallyconnected to said main panel and folded along a third crease lineperpendicularly arranged with respect to said first crease line And saidseond crease line, said side panel positioned outwardly of said firstend panel and said second end panel and being sized to overlap saidfirst end panel and said second end panel and being secured thereto byadhesive; a flap extending along said length and being integrallyconnected to said main panel and foleded along a fourth crease lineparallel to said third crease line, said flap being sized such whenfolded along said fourth crease line will overlap said side panel, saidfirst end panel and said second end panel, said flap having an interiorsurface with adhesive thereon to adhesively secure said flap to saidside panel, said first end panel and said second end panel, wherein theimprovement comprises: first perforated straight line extending acrosssaid first end panel and parallel with said first crease line; a secondperforated straight line extending across said flap; a third perforatedstraight line extending across said main panel; a fourth perforatedstraight line extending across said side panel, said fourth perforatedline is parallel with said first perforated line, said second perforatedline and said third perforated line with aid first, second, third andfourth perforated lines positioned the same distance from said firstcrease line allowing said envelope to be torn across said width in astraight line to remove the contents of the envelope; a fifth perforatedstraight line extending across said flap; a sixth perforated straightline extending across said main panel and positioned between said thirdperforated line and said window; a seventh perforated straight lineextending across said side panel and parallel with said first, fifth andsixth perforated lines; said fifth, sixth and seventh perforated linesare positioned the same distance from said first crease line allowingsaid envelope to be torn across said width in a second straight lineinto a first piece containing said window, said main panel has aninterior surface with adhesives thereon adjacent said fifth perforatedline and between said window and said fifth perforated line allowingsaid first piece to be resealed by sealing said main panel to said flap,said side panel and said second end panel adjacent to said fifthperforated line subsequent to the tearing thereof, said adhesive on saidinterior surface of said main panel adhesively secures said main panelto said second end panel, said flap and said side panel; said data cardhas at length and width sized with respect to the length and width ofsaid envelope such that relative motion between said envelope and saidcard is prevented when said card is positioned in said envelope and saidenvelope is sealed and untorn.